New to Smoking MES

[NewGuyNJ]

Well i am new here today and have searched through a bit. Santa was night enough to bring me a smoker this yr and now after reading online and on here i am a little worried. I have this model https://www.bjs.com/product/masterb...ic-stainless-steel-smoker/3000000000000975108

I have never done any type of smoking before but wanted to give it a go, but also wanted to get something small enough i can take camping with us so i thought this would fit the bill. different sites have different reviews. I wanted to come to the people who use smokers and get good reviews. Am i going to have a problem getting this smoker to put out smoke with wood chips?

Any advise, or thoughts on what i should be doing? Thanks a head of time.

 

[slapaho_injun]

It'll work just fine. Just don't sell it and regret it later like I did.

Great units for easy small smoke jobs. I've got a much better & bigger stick burner now but I do miss the little MES.

 

[kruizer]

Welcome to SMF from Minnesota.

 

[Winterrider]

It should serve the purpose. Try something easy at 1st such as chicken or pork butt. Don't expect a lot if smoking in cold temps as the one in your post only has a 800watt element which will be hard to maintain temps above 200°. Lot of good info here.
Welcome and enjoy your smoker...

 

[NewGuyNJ]

Ok, i hope it wouldn't be a problem getting the heat up. should i set the temp at 275 if i want to be around 225-240?

 

[HalfSmoked]

Welcome glad to have you on board lot of great guys and gals on here with tons of info willing to help you just for the asking. Look under the heading forum scroll down and find the smokers.

Warren

 

[slapaho_injun]

No. Set it at you're desired temp. It'll b fine. I smoke year round in Minnesota and on the coldest of days it still ran up to 240 without trouble. Electricity meter may have been going nuts but it did maintain temp.

 

[PAS]

I have the same unit and have no problems. Keep it out of the wind, is the best advice I can give.

I mis spoke. Just a quick glance. That isnt what I have. Same advice, about the wind.

 

[tropics]

That looks like a Gen #1 the vent is on the top right. Get a AMNPS or the tube they sell. I had the Gen #2 it was the worst one they made,when it burnt out I got the Gen #2.5 with blue tooth.
What part of NJ are you in
Richie

 

[NewGuyNJ]

I have not opened the box yet lol, but i will see what the drip pan and all looks like to tell if its a gen 2.5 which i think it is. I'm in Gibbstown NJ

 

[tropics]

This is a Gen #2.5

Vent is on the top left
The pic you are showing makes it a gen #1
Gen #2 has the vent on the left side not the top
Richie

 

[NewGuyNJ]

Thanks for letting me know. I asked for another one and the wife got me this one lol.

 

[tropics]

You may want to get in on this deal,MES gauges are junk IMHO
https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t...eal-today-1-8-2019-12-05-pst-6-05-pst.283271/
Richie

 

[GaryHibbert]

Welcome to the Forum.
I'm not just sure which model MES this is, but it is not a Gen 1. Bearcarver is the local expert on this, so hopefully he'll be along to help.
I have a MES 30 Gen 1, which also has the 800 watt heat element. I smoke meat all winter (when I'm home) up here in the Foothill of Alberta, and don't have a problem getting up to temp. If wind is a factor, a welding blanket wrapped around the MES will keep the wind off and will help retain heat. Another trick I use is with the water dish. I filled it with sand and foiled it over to keep the sand clean ( you simply DON'T NEED added moisture in a MES). On real cold days I put the sand filled dish in the oven, set the temp for whatever temp I plan to be smoking at, and leave it there til its nice and warm. You'll be amazed at how fast the MES will come up to temp on a cold day when you put a large preheated heat sink inside it.
Your smoker will work just fine using wood chips for smoke--the only drawback to using chips being that you'll have to keep adding chips every 20 to 30 minutes. Your best bet is to get a tray maze from A-Maze-N products (Todd is a sponsor here). This will allow you to burn pellets for your smoke and you'll seldom have to refill it during a cook. You can either place the AMNPS inside the MES, or add a Mailbox Mod to your smoker. Lots of info here on both--just do a search.
One last thing about a MES. ALWAYS LEAVE THE TOP VENT WIDE OPEN!!!!!!!
Enjoy.
Gary

 

[KrisUpInSmoke]

Read the manual or call and make sure you have the right gauge extension cord.
I've got a 1200W mes and it is off by 25℉, so I put in 275 and it runs around 250. That's 250 according to the independent therm I use, while the mes is reading a higher temp than its actually holding. You might really want to get an independent digital thermometer, with a probe for the grate temp ( so you know if your smoker temp is off) and a probe or more for your meat(s).

 

[GaryHibbert]

Good call Kris. I was just about to add that to my post. MES therms are pretty much useless.
Gary

 

[Bearcarver]

Well i am new here today and have searched through a bit. Santa was night enough to bring me a smoker this yr and now after reading online and on here i am a little worried. I have this model https://www.bjs.com/product/masterb...ic-stainless-steel-smoker/3000000000000975108

I have never done any type of smoking before but wanted to give it a go, but also wanted to get something small enough i can take camping with us so i thought this would fit the bill. different sites have different reviews. I wanted to come to the people who use smokers and get good reviews. Am i going to have a problem getting this smoker to put out smoke with wood chips?

Any advise, or thoughts on what i should be doing? Thanks a head of time.

That one in the BJ's ad is a Hybrid MES, with a Gen #1 exterior, and a Gen #2.5 interior.

Bear

 

[NewGuyNJ]

Happen to know if this side box would fit on the smoker i have?

That one in the BJ's ad is a Hybrid MES, with a Gen #1 exterior, and a Gen #2.5 interior.

Bear

 

[Bearcarver]

Happen to know if this side box would fit on the smoker i have?

Somebody can correct me, but as far as I know that thing will fit on any Digital MES.

However I personally think you'd be better off with an AMNPS (5 X 8 Tray), with a mess of Pellets & Dust.

Bear

 

[Murray]

I have the exact same model. I seasoned mine at -15C (5F) and had no issues with the unit cycling on/off to 275C. My MES is stored outside in an unheated shed, temperatures below 0C (32F) you will get an error message and will need an external heat source (hair dryer, heatgun) to get the MES internal temperature above 0C (32F) before it will start up. Gary Hibbert (posted above) using sand as a heat sink, I haven’t tried that yet but I will start doing that, at those temperatures you lose all the heat when you open the door.